Berberis plant named ‘24kagozam’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Berberis , ‘24kagozam’, characterized by its low growing, compact, and rounded plant habit, its very slow growth habit, and its foliage that is gold in color with the stems and foliage of the new growth orange in color.

Botanical classification: Berberis thunbergii.

Variety denomination: ‘24kagozam’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Berberis thunbergii, and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘24kagozam’. ‘24kagozam’ is a new cultivar of shrub grown for use as an ornamental landscape plant.

The Inventor discovered the new cultivar as a chance seedling in a seedbed at his nursery in Perry, Ohio in 2004. The seedbed had been planted with seeds from an unnamed plant of Berberis thunbergii.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by the Inventor using softwood stem cuttings in summer of 2009 in Perry, Ohio. Asexual propagation of the new cultivar by softwood stem cuttings has been determined that the characteristics are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a trial plot in Perry, Ohio. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘24kagozam’ as unique cultivar of Berberis.

-   -   1. ‘24kagozam’ exhibits a low growing, compact, and rounded         plant habit.     -   2. ‘24kagozam’ exhibits a very slow growth habit.     -   3. ‘24kagozam’ exhibits foliage that is gold in color with the         stems and foliage of the new growth orange in color.         The parent plant of ‘24kagozam’, an unnamed plant of Berberis         thunbergii, differs from ‘24kagozam’ in having red foliage, a         more vigorous growth habit, and a plant habit that is larger is         size, less compact, and is less branched. ‘24kagozam’ can be         most closely compared to the cultivars ‘Bogozam’ (not patented)         and ‘Monlers’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,577). Both cultivars differ         from ‘24kagozam’ in being larger in size, in having less dense         branching, having more vigorous plant habits, and in lacking new         growth that is orange in color. In addition, ‘Monlers’ is less         cold hardy than ‘24kagozam’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs were taken in mid summer and illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of a nine year-old plant of the new Berberis as grown outdoors in a trial bed in Perry, Ohio.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides an overall view of the plant habit and foliage coloration of ‘24kagozam’ in spring.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘24kagozam’ in spring.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a view of the foliage coloration of ‘24kagozam’ in fall.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close-up view of the flower buds of ‘24kagozam’.

The photograph in FIG. 5 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘24kagozam’.

The photograph in FIG. 6 provides a close-up view of the fruit of ‘24kagozam’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Berberis.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 3 year-old plants the new Berberis as grown in 3-gallon containers in Perry, Ohio. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—April to May in Ohio.         -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Low growing, compact, and rounded.         -   Plant height and spread.—Reaches 46 cm (18 inches) in height             and 91 cm (36 inches) in spread.         -   Diseases and pests.—The new cultivar has been observed to be             disease free to date under the conditions of trials.         -   Sun tolerance.—High, no foliage burning has been observed             when grown in full sun with sufficient moisture.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 4.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Very slow. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—New growth; 151A and suffused with 33A,             maturing;160A, mature bark a blend of 200B and 200D.         -   Stem size.—Main branches; about 10 cm in length and 3 mm in             diameter, lateral branches; average of 7 cm in length and             1.5 mm in diameter.         -   Stem surface.—New growth; glabrous and slightly glossy,             mature wood is dull and smooth and becoming bark-like as it             ages.         -   Internode length.—An average of 4 mm.         -   Branching.—An average of 5 lateral branches per main stem,             alternate pattern, narrow angles. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Spatulate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Long attenuate.         -   Leaf apex.—Rounded to broadly acute with small apiculate             tip.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate whorls at axils (average of 5             leaves).         -   Leaf surface.—Smooth to moderately glossy on upper and lower             surface.         -   Leaf internode length.—Average of 3 mm between whorls.         -   Leaf size.—Up to 2 cm in length and 7 mm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 40 pair per branch 6 cm in length.         -   Leaf color.—Newly expanded leaves upper surface; 151A and             suffused with 33A and margins of 33A, newly expanded leaves             lower surface; 151A with very fine margin of 33A, mature             leaves upper surface; a blend of 151A and 144B , mature             leaves lower surface; a blend of 151A and 138D, fall leaves             upper surface; a blend of 34C and 22C, fall leaves lower             surface; a blend of 146B, 34C, and 22C.         -   Thorns.—Below each node is a sharp single thorn; average of             6 mm length and 1 mm in width at base, 151D in color and             183A at tip.         -   Petiole.—Rounded in shape, an average of 1 cm in length and             1.5 mm in diameter, 138D in color. -   Inflorescence and fruit description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel with an average of 3 flowers per             terminal whorl and about 15 clusters per plant.         -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 8 mm cm in depth and 1.4             cm diameter.         -   Flower buds.—Orbicular to globose in shape, color; a blend             of 144A and 151A suffused with 187B, petal portion 4D, an             average of 3 mm in length and 4 mm in width.         -   Flower fragrance.—None detected.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Inflorescence blooms for about             2 weeks with individual flowers lasting about 5 days,             self-cleaning (not persistent).         -   Flower quantity.—An average of 3 flowers per terminal             inflorescence.         -   Flower size.—An average of 7 mm in diameter and 5 mm in             depth.         -   Peduncles.—An average of 4 mm in length to base of             inflorescence and 1 mm in diameter, 144B suffused with 187B             in color, glabrous surface, rounded in shape.         -   Pedicels.—An average of 4.5 mm in length and 1 mm in             diameter, 144B suffused with 187B in color, glabrous             surface.         -   Bracts.—An average of 2, at the base of each flower, held             horizontal, ovate in shape, an average of 3 mm in length and             2 mm in width, acute apex, truncate base, color; both             surfaces a blend of 144A and 151A suffused with 187C, both             surfaces glabrous.         -   Calyx.—Cup shaped, becoming more open with maturity, an             average of 7 mm in diameter and 3 mm in depth.         -   Sepals.—6 in two whorls of 3, sepals on outer whorl;             orbicular to rotund in shape, entire margin, broadly acute             to rounded apex, rounded base, an average of 4 mm in length             and 3 mm in width, color; upper and lower surfaces NN155A             with center region a blend of 144A and 151A, lower surface             is also suffused with 187C, both surfaces glabrous, sepals             on inner whorl; petal-like, almost orbicular in shape,             entire margin, rounded to erose apex, rounded base, an             average of 5 mm in length and 4 mm in width, color; upper             and lower surfaces NN155A with center region 1C, apex             occasionally suffused with 187C and veins 151A, both             surfaces glabrous.         -   Petals.—6 in a single whorl, orbicular in shape, strongly             cupped inward, entire margin, rounded to erose apex of each             free, cuneate base, an average of 4 mm in length and 3 mm in             width, color; upper and lower surface NN155A with center             region a blend between 1C and 1D, color not fading, both             surfaces glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—1 pistil, obovoid in shape, about 3 mm in length,             style is less than 1 mm in length, and 144B in color, stigma             is about 2 mm in diameter and less than 1 mm in length,             flattened globose in shape with central depression, and             N144A in color, ovary is superior, about 2.5 mm in length             and 1 mm in diameter, and 144B in color.         -   Androcoecium.—6 stamens, about 3 mm cm in length, filaments             are 4C in color and about 1.5 cm in length, anthers are             about 1 mm in length, basifixed, 4B in color, pollen is             abundant in quantity and 4C in color.         -   Fruit and seed.—True berry, ovoid in shape, about 5 mm in             diameter and 7 mm in length, produced in late summer, 185B             in color, seed; 0.5 mm in size and 200A in color. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Berberis plant named ‘24kagozam’ as herein illustrated and described. 